The sun transfers thermal energy to the earth by what energy

- - Thermal energy can move from one place to another by

conduction, convection, or radiation.

- - Conduction and convection need a material substance to

move through. Radiation doesn't.

- - Since there's no material substance between the Sun and

the Earth, that right there tells us that the heat and light we get

from the sun all gets here by the process of radiation.